He toured the Moreton Bay district of New South Wales and decided that there were good opportunities there.
In 1858, he commissioned a large residence called Claremont, but a downturn in his finances forced him to sell it in 1863 to George Thorn (senior).
[3] In 1865 the family built another house also called Claremont at 5 Blackall Street, East Ipswich.
[1][6] Panton was appointed to the Queensland Legislative Council on 22 February 1866 and served until his death on 2 September 1866.
[7] There is a memorial tablet for John Panton in St Pauls Anglican Church.